Do you love videogames? Then you should know that there is a very interesting museum in Moscow dedicated to old Soviet Arcade Machines. Videogames are not only a Japanese thing. After all, one of the most popular videogames in history (Tetris) was created in Russia. Now let’s have a look at some old Soviet video games.

In Soviet Russia… people played videogames

Russians had the technology to put the first satellite in space , the first animal, man and woman, and even the first space station… so creating some videogames doesn’t sound like a hard task, does it? 

If you are in Moscow, at Baumanskaya Street 11, you can visit The Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines. It certainly is a great way to spend a few hours going back in time. They have a display of old arcade machines made in Russia. But they are there not only to be watched, because you can also play them, since many of the machines are still in working condition.

But if you can’t go to Russia, don’t worry. You can still play at the Museum’s website. Here we show you how to do it. 

Arcades from Музей советских игорских автоматов

A car game

Do you love car videogames? If you do, and if you have ever played some "ancient" games, you will believe you have played this one before. This is what many would call a tedious game from the Stone Age. But try to win and you will see this isn’t easy at all. 

Game´s title: Магистраль
Let’s start playing: Click here http://magistral.15kop.ru/game/ 
In the middle of the screen you will see two bars: a green one and a red one. The red bar shows your progress while the green one is your rivals’. Try to beat your rival. Then you have to choose the type of road you want to drive on. You will see five triangles. Each one is a different type of road, the one on the left being the easiest and the one of the right, the hardest. 
Controls: Use your keyboard (left, right and up).  

War games

This is quite a revolutionary concept for a video game. As you can see in the picture below, while playing you will have to see the screen through a periscope, as in a submarine. Apart from this, the technical part of the game is not going to blow your mind, but don’t forget that we are talking about games from the 70s and 80s. 

Game´s title: Морскойбой
Let’s start playing:  Click here http://morskoy-boy.15kop.ru/game/
Then you have to click the Старт button and off we go!
Controls: Use your keyboard (left, right and space) or your mouse.  

Periscope from Морскойбой

A bowling game

Gorodki is an old Russian game, similar in concept to bowling. If you know the game, you might find this amusing. Otherwise, this could be a strange, simple and not very appealing game.

Game´s title: Годорки
Let’s start playing: Click here http://gorodki.15kop.ru/game/
Then you have to click the Старт button Controls: Use your keyboard (left, right and space) or your mouse.

Where to find this museum 

If you love videogames and retro games, this is what you are looking for. The Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines (Музей советских игорских автоматов) is at Baumanskaya Street, 11 (Metro station: “Baumanskaya”)